Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo
Overview
The story behind Australia Zoo is quite incredible and has deep familial ties to the Irwin family, the most famous of these being Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, who tragically lost his life to a stingray barb in 2006. Steve was ‘born into wildlife’, growing up on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and helping his parents at the ‘Beerwah Reptile Park’. This was established in 1970 as a two-acre park in which his mum was a skilled wildlife rehabilitator, nursing injured and orphaned animals before releasing them back into the wild.
Steve demonstrated a remarkably natural gift with wildlife from a young age, relocating problem crocodiles and studying snakes, birds and reptiles. Throughout his years he assisted the Queensland government in the management of crocodiles, married Terri Raines, had two children Bindi and Robert, started an internationally acclaimed documentary series called ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ and grew the park to over 700 acres which currently employs over 500 staff.
Australia Zoo continues Steve Irwin’s mission of:
“Conservation Through Exciting Education”
Australia Zoo is an interactive and well planned exhibit of wildlife that is accessible to humans in a safe and controlled environment, where animal welfare is paramount. Visit the official website for shows which change on a daily basis, although Steve’s famous Crocoseum, is consistently open for crocodile mayhem!
Itinerary
Wildlife Hospital
Tortoises
Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors Show, Crocoseum
Lunch at Crikey Cafe
Robert’s Wildlife Photography
Australiana animals
Rainforest aviary
Red Panda
Tiger Temple
Bindi’s Island
African Savannah
The Souvenir Shop!
Australia Zoo Map
Download your free Australia Zoo Map from their website before arriving to plan your day and so as not to miss any of your favourite animals!
Wildlife Hospital
The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital has burgeoned from its origins as a renovated small avocado packing shed to the current day advanced technology hospital with a state of the art operating theatre, radiology room, pathology laboratory and intensive care unit. As one of the world’s largest and busiest purpose-built wildlife hospitals, this special centre is saving Australia’s native species, from kangaroos hit by cars to koala joey’s who have lost their mums or sea turtles who have ingested plastic. Visitors can view operations in action and a variety of animals receiving treatment.
Check out the amazing statistics below.
Total Patients Admitted: 95,633
September 2020 Patients Admitted: 616
Monthly Patients Admitted: 6000 – 8000
Tortoises
One of the first amazing enclosures encountered after entering is that of the Aldabra tortoises. With a height of up to one metre and a weight of close to 300 kg, it is no wonder that mating for these herbivorous reptiles is a death defying act! If the male tips over while trying to mount the female, it’s near impossible to correct himself once tipped! The Aldabra tortoise is native to the islands of the Aldabra Atoll and Seychelles, off of the coast of Africa. Once hunted by sailors, the Aldabra Atoll is thankfully now a heritage listed site.
En route to the Crocoseum, be sure to find some unique Australian animals such as Australian turtles, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, cassowary and freshwater crocodiles.
Wildlife Warriors Show, Crocoseum
I had goosebumps walking into the Crocoseum. There were also possibly a few miscreant water drops collecting in the corner of my eyes seeing the video of Steve Irwin play on the big screen.
This was his playground. His joy. His pride. His love for wildlife is infectious.
The Wildlife Warriors Show is abundant in animals and showcases everything from beautiful pythons to red-tailed black cockatoos to the piece de resistance, the salt water crocodiles. The experience is interactive and there’s even a ‘corporate box’ where you can pay for the best seat in the house and have all of the animals brought personally to you!
Lunch at Crikey Cafe
Time to refuel at this cafe overlooking the likes of Casper, Agro and Acco: all imposing crocs. Grab a snack at this licenced cafe.
Robert’s Wildlife Photography
Robert is Steve’s son and he has traveled around the world to bring visitors some awarded images of wildlife and wild places! Check out some of the images in his gallery.
Australiana animals
Would you even be at Australia Zoo if you didn’t check out some of the native wildlife? Of course this means kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, koalas and echidnas!
Rainforest Aviary
The rainforest aviary is a caged region of exotic birds. However, the only ones who sat still for me were a Bar-shouldered dove and a Torres Strait Island pigeon!
R: Torres Strait Island pigeon
Red Panda
You’ll either catch this cute little fella on the run or in the trees. If he’s not in motion, then it’ll be difficult to spot him! Red pandas are well equipped for the chilly Himalayan climate in which they live. Their thick, insulated red coat and bushy tail that serves as a scarf keeps them warm in their Nepalese, Burmese and Chinese homes.
Tiger Temple
Don’t miss the Tiger Temple which is home to both Bengal and Sumatran tigers, as well as the only underwater viewing area in the South Hemisphere! This means, you can watch the tigers swim! I was lucky to visit in August 2020, just five months after Sally, Sage and Malcolm were born, the Sumatran tiger triplets. Their playful energy was infectious and had visitors beaming from ear to ear as we watched them tackle each other and make playful swipes. We were also grateful for the fence!
Bindi’s Island
Some of the most captivating animals in the park are the inquisitive ring-tailed lemurs, who sit with their bellies to the sun for warmth, in their famous ‘yoga pose’. You’ll find them on Bindi’s island roaming around and jumping out of trees!
Once you’ve walked across the bridge to the island, there’s much fun to be had. You’ll find a massive three-storey treehouse with great views across the lake, more Aldabran tortoises, a boa constrictor and some vibrant macaws.
M: Bindi’s Treehouse
R: Macaws
After Bindi’s Island, it’s on to the last stop…. Africa!
R: View from the Treehouse, Bindi’s Island
African Savannah
The wide open plain of ‘Africa’ at the Australia Zoo is home to some graceful giraffes, Southern white rhinos, plains zebra and some mischievous meercats who pack a punch in the personality stakes! Keep a look out for the cheetah on their daily walks.
A long day on foot calls for a comfortable ride back on the regularly timed train. You’ll find the shuttle stop at the end of the Africa exhibit.
Souvenir Shop
There are 6 shops at Australia Zoo to purchase a thing or two! With great souvenirs and gifts such as plush toys, keyrings, tshirts, hats, calendars, magnets and wind chimes, postcards, coffee mugs and backpacks (just to name a few!), it’s a nifty place to pick up a memory of your day here.
